Anti-Counterfeit Firm Reports Over 250 Websites Peddling Fake Weight-Loss Drugs
BrandShield, a cybersecurity firm, has successfully shut down over 250 websites selling counterfeit versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs in the GLP-1 class. These drugs, including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, are designed to treat type 2 diabetes but are also known for their weight-loss effects.
According to BrandShield CEO Yoav Keren, more than 90% of the 279 pharmacy websites closed last year for selling drugs related to metabolic conditions were associated with GLP-1 medicines. The growing demand for these drugs has fueled a lucrative market for counterfeit versions, leading to cases of harm reported in several countries.
Keren expressed concern about criminals exploiting the popularity of these drugs to sell counterfeit versions. In 2023, websites selling fake GLP-1 drugs represented just over 15% of the total number of websites identified by BrandShield for peddling counterfeit drugs. This marked a significant increase compared to 2022, when only 34 such sites were targeted.
BrandShield collaborated with the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), an industry-backed organization, to remove these websites. PSI members, including Lilly and Novo, selected the drugs to target, and BrandShield provided evidence of counterfeit products to service providers hosting the sites.
In addition to shutting down websites, BrandShield removed thousands of listings on social media platforms for fake drugs, with a significant portion found on Facebook. While the company did not have specific data on the number of listings selling counterfeit GLP-1s, it highlighted the broader challenge of combating illegal drug sales across various online platforms and marketplaces.
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